α-Clustering in atomic nuclei from first principles with statistical learning and the Hoyle state character.

A long-standing crucial question with atomic nuclei is whether or not α clustering occurs there. An α particle (helium-4 nucleus) comprises two protons and two neutrons, and may be the building block of some nuclei. This is a very beautiful and fascinating idea, and is indeed plausible because the α particle is particularly stable with a large binding energy.

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the analysis of N-(3-aminopropyl)-N-dodecylpropane-1,3-diamine, a biocidal disinfectant, in dairy products.

A novel and reliable method to quantify residual levels of N-(3-aminopropyl)-N-dodecylpropane-1,3-diamine in dairy products using ion-pairing reversed-phase liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed and fully validated. Sample extraction was done with salting-out technique using acetonitrile and sodium chloride. For LC-MS/MS, the analyte was detected using positive electrospray ionization (ESI+) and two multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) transitions were monitored.

Monotropic polymorphism in a glass-forming metallic alloy.

This study investigates the crystallization and phase transition behavior of the amorphous metallic alloy AuCuAgSi. This alloy has been recently shown to exhibit a transition of a metastable to a more stable crystalline state, occurring via metastable melting under strong non-equilibrium conditions. Such behavior had so far not been observed in other metallic alloys.

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry multiresidue method for the analysis of quaternary ammonium compounds in cheese and milk products: Development and validation using the total error approach.

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are both cationic surfactants and biocidal substances widely used as disinfectants in the food industry. A sensitive and reliable method for the analysis of benzalkonium chlorides (BACs) and dialkyldimethylammonium chlorides (DDACs) has been developed that enables the simultaneous quantitative determination of ten quaternary ammonium residues in dairy products below the provisional maximum residue level (MRL), set at 0.1mgkg.

Reduced susceptibilities to biocides and resistance to antibiotics in food-associated bacteria following exposure to quaternary ammonium compounds.

Aims: Our aim was to assess the effects of step-wise exposure to didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC) on the antimicrobial (antibiotics and biocides) susceptibilities of food-associated bacterial strains.

Methods And Results: Adaptive responses of bacterial strains were investigated by exposing the strains daily to increasing subinhibitory concentrations of DDAC for 7 days. Following adaptation to DDAC, a threefold increase in the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for this biocide was observed in 48% of the Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes strains, and 3% of the Salmonella strains.